Collin Moulton

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As he talks to City Pages, comedian Collin Moulton is in the middle of a staycation. "I'm always traveling, so this is my time to be home with the kids and the dogs," he explains from his residence in Southern California. Onstage, he tells joke-filled stories about things such as a visit to the post office, or the time he got pulled over by a police officer who had a stutter. Occasionally, he'll strap on a guitar and play a few tunes. He found his way into standup when a former girlfriend's mother suggested he give it a try. "Up until then I just thought someone would come along and anoint me. You know, tap me on the forehead with a microphone like a knight and say, 'You are now a standup.'" The mom said, "If you want to do this, I'll support you for a year or two if you get up onstage any chance you get." With his girlfriend's mom as his benefactor, he charged ahead. "It was pretty cool," he says. He broke up with the girl, but his career was launched. Lately he's been flexing his comedy muscles with other projects, including two books and a TV pilot. The latter was borne of an odd practice he has when touring. "I used to be a mechanic," he says. "Right out of high school I worked for Chevy, and I'd buy and sell cars a lot." At subsequent jobs he missed being able to drive a different car every day. "What I do when I'm on the road sometimes is instead of renting a car I'll go on Craigslist, get off the plane, go look at an interesting car that's maybe five or six hundred bucks, and buy it." At the end of his run in that town, he sells it — usually on Craigslist — and leaves the signed pink slip at the club for the buyer to collect. The pilot for his series follows him doing this in Iowa. "I don't spend any money on a rental car and I maybe make a few hundred bucks." 18+; 21+ later shows. $13-$19. 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday; 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Mall of America, 408 E. Broadway, Bloomington; 952.858.8558. Through SundayAug. 22-26, 8 p.m.; Aug. 24-25, 10:30 p.m., 2012